Pirate Attacks Worsen in Gulf of Guinea - IMB

A surge in armed attacks against ships around West
Africa is pushing up global levels of piracy and armed robbery at
sea, warns the International Chamber of Commerce's International
Maritime Bureau (IMB).

IMB's Piracy Reporting Center recorded 66 incidents in the first
quarter of 2018, up from 43 for the same period in 2017, and 37
in Q1 2016.

Worldwide in the first three months of 2018, 100 crew were taken
hostage and 14 kidnapped from their vessels. A total of 39
vessels were boarded, 11 fired upon and four vessels hijacked.
IMB received a further 12 reports of attempted attacks.

The Gulf of Guinea accounts for 29 incidents in 2018 Q1, more
than 40 percent of the global total.

Of the 114 seafarers captured worldwide, all but one were in this
region. All four vessels hijackings were in the Gulf of Guinea,
where no hijackings were reported in 2017.

Two product tankers were hijacked from Cotonou anchorage in
mid-January and early February, prompting the IMB PRC to issue a
warning to ships. Towards the end of March, two fishing vessels
were hijacked 30nm off Nigeria and 27nm off Ghana.

"The hijacking of product tankers from anchorages in the Gulf of
Guinea is a cause of concern. In these cases, the intent of the
perpetrators is to steal the oil cargo and kidnap crew. The
prompt detection and response to any unauthorised movements of an
anchored vessel could help in the effective response to such
attacks," commented an IMB spokesperson.

Nigeria piracy hotspot

Nigeria alone recorded 22 incidents. Of the 11 vessels fired upon
worldwide, eight were off Nigeria - including a 300,000 MT
deadweight VLCC tanker more than 40nm off Brass.

"Attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are against all vessels. Crews
have been taken hostage and kidnapped from fishing and
refrigerated cargo vessels as well as product tankers. In some
cases, the attacks have been avoided by the early detection of an
approaching skiff, evasive action taken by the vessel and the
effective use of citadels. The IMB is working with national and
regional authorities in the Gulf of Guinea to support ships and
coordinate counter piracy actions. The authorities from Benin,
Nigeria and Togo have sent out boats in response to several
incidents," said an IMB spokesperson.

Somalia risk remains

One incident was reported off Somalia, where a product tanker was
fired upon and chased by two skiffs around 160nm SE of Hobyo. At
the end of March, a 160,000 DWT tanker reported being fired upon
in the Gulf of Aden, while transiting within the Maritime
Security Transit Corridor.

The distance from land, sighting of ladders and firing upon ships
continues to illustrate that the Somali pirates retain the
capability and intent to attack merchant shipping in the wider
Indian Ocean.